30 September 2004

word for the day

insanity. i heard somewhere that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result each time. if that's the case, then when it comes to planning and executing retreats, i have totally lost my ever-loving mind.

in 2002, i took 16 kids and two other adults to wimberley, texas. we played in the river, ate God knows how many roasted marshmallows, and played hide and go seek until we couldn't run any more. this year, there are 38 kids and five adults. i'm excited and nervous. and i'm so glad they are making sugar-free red bull that i can hardly contain myself.

i'm sure by the end of the weekend, i'll have had a little bit of sun, a little bit of drama, been farted or burped on by at least three children, had to sit someone in time out, make someone apologize for being an asshole, and be praying to God that if i ever do get married and have children that they will have all the good things my current kids have and none of the bad stuff. at some point this weekend, i will question whether God really does have a sense of humour, whether or not taking a retreat was ever a good idea, whether or not the pharmacist who fills these kids' prescriptions accidentally switched their real medicine for crack, and i will probably wonder if you can do an emergency tubal ligation on yourself with a s'more skewer and a flask full of johnny walker black. except i wouldn't take a flask of johnny walker black with me. mostly because i don't have a flask, but also because i would feel bad for drinking on the job. i hate that i have a code of ethics...

one day, i will look back on this period in my professional life and be amazed at the stamina i had, because by the time it's over with, i want to be a profession beach-bum and pina colada tester.

i hope this fall retreat is as fun, and not quite as eventful as the famous meth-lab raid of 2003. i'll keep you updated.

mil besos--r

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